Critical minerals: science, statecraft and society NEW

Drawing on the University’s wealth of expertise, the program will examine:

• What critical minerals are and how Australia determines them.
• Which key technologies are responsible for driving demand.
• Where they are located and how they are extracted and processed.
• How economics and supply-chain dynamics determine financing structures.
• How critical minerals contribute to national security and global strategic alliances.
• What environmental and social governance factors are considered in the development of resources.
• How Australia and other countries interact with First Nations’ priorities.

Indicative program

Day 1

• What are critical minerals and why do they matter?
• Critical minerals in critical technologies
• The complexity of Rare Earth Elements
• Critical by-products of conventional mining
• The geoeconomics of critical minerals
• Supply chain dynamics and risk
• The big players: geostrategic implications of critical minerals

Day 2

• The resource 'curse' and governance challenges
• Critical minerals and the just transition
• Native title: Legal frameworks and Indigenous involvement
• Future challenges: Scenario planning

This course will be relevant for officials with an interest in critical minerals including, but not limited to:

• Officials working on critical minerals and related policy, and the technologies they comprise.
• Officials who will be advancing Australia’s interests in international Critical Minerals trade.
• Officials, particularly in our region, seeking to understand the economic, environmental and ecological impacts on Critical Minerals extraction and refining.
• Officials who seek to better understand and explain the Australian First Nations’ experience in the context of Critical Minerals industry development.

For more details or to enrol please email epd.nsc@anu.edu.au